New Master Bath Wall Color

Hubs and I have been discussing having some upgrades

done to our master bath....but right now our financial priority
 is our youngest daughter's wedding in August.

An inexpensive way to get a fresh and new feeling

in the interim was to change the color of the walls

 to a gorgeous calming spa green/blue/grey.

It is EXACTLY what we I needed to tide me over!

The new color complements our pickled wood

paneled doors and cabinets.

This color plays tricks on your eyes -

sometimes if the sky is really blue it looks blue

and on grey days it can look almost silvery.

I found these perfect reproduction vintage botanical prints
(below)

in their perfect frames at the GW not very long ago

and they go perfectly with our brushed nickel faucets
and new large smokey framed mirrors.
(above)

I love this pic with its reflection
of the two floral prints by the tub in it.

Aren't the details of these mirrors something?
I am so happy we splurged on them, they're perfect.

It's easy to spend a little extra on something
 then save on other decor pieces
purchased at second hand stores - 
it balances the end amount spent nicely with less guilt felt.

For this winter season snowy blue spruce branches

and icy twigs with silver berries placed in an iced glass vase

makes a nice statement here.

Soon I will put those away and place our extra long

pure white albino peacock feathers in it.

We actually SAW the albino peacock at a local farm
and picked the feathers up off the ground
on the day we were engaged - so they mean a lot to us.

That cute little M tray was a gift from

 my women's club last year president Melinda

 as a thank you gift for being on her board.

I use it daily to hold my jewelry when washing up

or to hold at night while sleeping.

I keep things very simple in this bathroom -
 a large ironstone tureen to hold rolled-up face wash cloths....
...and a leggy wire basket for rolled up extra large bath towels.

]

No extra lighting was used for these pictures so I could show 

how bright the light is from outside.

I wanted to get the best look at the paint color this way.

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These plants LOVE all the bright natural light in here,

 and really thrive when it's all steamy.

This snake plant- or "Mother-in-law-tongue" as my mom referred to it

is almost fifty years old now!

 It was given to me as a small child by a sweet garden store owner

when (apparently) I was being extra patient and good

 while my mother was shopping.

Funny I remember her telling me that if I were careful with it

it could very well outlive me. Boy, she wasn't kidding.

That plant has moved with me my entire life.

I've shared that story a long while ago,

 but it is worth repeating since the plant is in the pic.

Plus it is in a neat new pottery pot worth showing off.

I REALLY just took this pic below pic

 to show those two canvas art prints.

I found them at one of my favorite local higher-end

 second hand stores not too long ago.

I knew EXACTLY where they were going to go!

I absolutely adore them.

And God forbid that I should have one room

 without a BIRD in it, right? 

I was tempted for some time to change out our soaker tub

 for a more popular darling claw-footed tub- 

but we've decided that our extra deep tub is a keeper.

 It's not a whirlpool, so needs no maintenance,

and it is in pristine condition.

 I fit in it perfectly - it's not too long, not too short,

 not too deep- I think I'd really miss it-
so it's dumb to want to change it, at least that's how
I look at it it.

It just needs to have brushed nickel faucets,
which we will be putting in ourselves one day soon.

The below pic is the closest to the true color -

 I think because of those extra lights being turned on maybe?

Thanks, Margie - our wonderful painter friend -

 you always do such great work!

Our plans - eventually- for this master bath:

*Gut the shower and make it larger

 with a little seat inside, built-in shampoo and soap holders

 with tile and a heavy frame less shower door. Possible double

shower heads - one rain one and one hand held one.

Right now the shower is ivory cultured marble but has a 

crack and we have it caulked but bleh!

* Considering losing the soffitt and have sconce lighting on either side of the framed mirrors, three of them perhaps.

*Upgrading the builder-grade cabinets to a taller custom quality.

We will then use these cabinets (if salvageable) in the basement to help me organize my craft area.

*I do like my ivory marble counter tops but would love to upgrade to white/grey Carrara marble to match with the rest of the room's white.

* We *may* move the bathroom door over a little to make more

room for a larger shower. (To the right of the door out of sight of above pic.) If we do move the door it not only gives us a much nicer roomier shower, but also gives me a larger blank wall space in the bedroom

allowing me to move my furniture around more. I'd love that.

BUT if we move the door to gain those two things we will lose those three roomy drawers on cabinets.....so perhaps we could have a tall custom made one to make up for it. Time will tell.

I am not - and never have been- in love with the 8 inch tile in the bathroom because there's SO MUCH grout.......but it is in perfect condition so don't think we'll spend the money to change it, especially

since it will match even better to Cararra marble that we'll be getting.

So, that's our big plans for the bathroom, now on the back burner.

It's fun sharing my dream decor ideas with you -

 thanks so much for indulging me.

Somehow I just KNOW you understand!

Any ideas you have on the plans please share -

it helps me make better choices knowing all options.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the meantime I truly am enjoying this new wall color.

It's funny how color can totally change a mood, isn't it?

I now lie in my tub with its lavender-milk infused water 

and truly feel like I am soaking at a luxury spa now.

As always, thank you for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Sundays At Home   *   Amaze Me Monday   *   Make It Pretty  

Tuesdays At Our Home   *   Inspire Me Tuesday

A Funny "Cuppa" For Sure!

Ran across this sign and found myself laughing

 so many times that I just HAD to share with you all -

 'cuz laughter truly is the best medicine!

I bet there's time when the 

Dowager Countess Violet

would soooo love to say this exact thing!

You know she does say it in her awesome lady-like way, though!

I bet she REALLY wanted to say it to Miss Bunting

 in the last Downton Abbey episode during dinner, perhaps?

But I think this would be more appropriatly

stated BELOW stairs - perhaps the new ladies maid

to Thomas a few weeks ago?

Have a wonderful day!

♥

~Michele

No comments- allows more time for giggling!

Beautiful Snowy View!

I received the most awesome picture today from my husband

 from his cell phone as he was sitting in his office at work, 

looking out his window at a most spectacular view.

He knows how much I ADORE true snowy winter days,

and he knows how much I ♥ sharing it with my blog readers!

Here is my surprise pic in all its wintry frozen splendor:

South Fork Indian Run Creek runs into the Scioto River two miles east of this spot.

I took this fun shadow pic at around noon when the sun is right above those trees. I just stood at my kitchen sink and clicked.

I love all the pristine pretty and undisturbed snow,
 save where the birds knocked down the seeds under their feeder.

I know I say it much too often, but, well,
 I really do like my sloppy birdies a lot.

I took this in early day when it had just finished snowing
and the sky was still grey, but the sun came out
to make some nifty shadows.

We had a fun day to watch the sky changing today!


You can see the sun coming out but sky still grey.....

Then these I took again through the back kitchen window
just a short time later when the sky 
turned blue and was absolutely stunning.

All these different skies in a matter of just a few hours.

I wouldn't give up these 4 seasons for anything....
though it would be nice to be able to plan outdoor
activities in the spring and summer,
knowing that it may RAIN without much notice......
that would be dreamy for planning outdoor tea parties!

One last one - again taken through the back door's glass.

I think I never love my back yard more
than when it is all perfectly snow covered.

This is a dark part of the day before the sun
comes around the house and sets just to the left of those
tall evergreens at the left of the pic.

Thank you, Dear God for a beautiful winter's day!

Thank you, my dear husband, for my snowy day blog post inspiration!

I hope my non-winter-snow friends felt as though
they visited a Winter Wonderland!

(That was the subject line in the pic named & sent by hubs. How cute is that?)

Tomorrow evening I am hosting my annual formal 
Winter's Eve Dinner Party,

so this crispy new white snowfall
 couldn't have come at a better time!


I hope to share the dinner details with you soon,
 as well as finishing up the final portion of
 the home in its winter decor mode, as promised.

In the meantime, stay bundled up warm and dry!

God bless each and every one of you!

OK, back to more cookin' now..............


As always, thank you for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Pretty Pink Teacups

To me there isn't much prettier or more romantic

 and truly graceful than an old and lovely teacup...

especially if it has pink roses on it.

Half the enjoyment of tea time

 is using one's special pretty collectibles.

Soft tiny pink rose chintz is my all-time very favorite.

My most treasured setting for 12 is this old Bavarian wedding rose.

It's taken me my entire adult life to collect the pieces.

To this day it's difficult for me not to keep acquiring!

I have a few extra teapots in this too so there's always

tea flowing on each end of the table when I get it out and 

use this china for very special tea parties.

It's been a very long time since I have done so.

I do tend to save it for my spring and summertime teas.

Sometimes. :-)

I dream of having a large staff and hosting an outdoor

 Downton Abbey type old fashioned period 

AFTERNOON IN THE GARDEN TEA with this china.

But this is Ohio and one cannot plan outdoor events far ahead of time for our inclement weather.

And one certainly cannot do something of that caliber without a Mrs. Patmore, Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson!

And one certainly doesn't have the time or extra money to hire it out for real.

I wonder if one could charge admittance for putting something like this on without having an operating license?

I wonder if one needs to get her head out of the clouds and quit dreaming and get some housework done now?

I think it is really important

 to get pretty treasures out of a cabinet now and then

 to enjoy and use, don't you?

Life is just too short to simply drink tea each day 

out of a heavy stoneware mug!

Go ahead, spoil yourself -

make your next tea time a slow and wonderful ritual!

Invite a friend and sip slowly and enjoy!

Celebrate friendship!

Celebrate love!

Celebrate teatime!

Celebrate roses!

Celebrate pink!

Celebrate being a lady!

As much as I adore All Things Tea China,

 I don't decorate in a shabby chic girlie romantic style.

I am sure my very manly husband appreciates that fact.

I don't have much of my china displayed.

I put one or two teacup sets out in vignettes sometimes,

 and have a china glass front cabinet

showcasing my very special keepsakes...

but mostly I have it all hidden away

 behind cabinet doors or in my china room downstairs.

Please join in on wishing Sandi

from Rose Chintz Cottage for Teatime Tuesday 

to wish her a happy 5 year bloggaversary!

Thank you, Sandi for bringing us together
 in such a lovely way!


(You can click on image below to take you there.)

Also linking:

Pink Saturday   *   Mosaic Monday    *   Teacup Tuesday


Friends Sharing Tea

Neutral Winter Decor

Oh, how I really love winter.

I love all four seasons.

Winter is second only to autumn as my favorite.

It's still winter here, and can be until late March,

though our snow is melting rapidly for now.

Most of it melted just today.

I do hope the snow comes back soon, though;

 it's SO pretty!

If it must be winter, I say

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!

******************************************************

Post-Christmas winter decor

 is kept simple and light around here.

Lots of whites and silver all around

keeping things fresh enough for the time being.

I have a bajillion candles too -

and burn them all day and most of the evening as well.

And most of you know how I love my birdies.

One may pretty much find them everywhere around here.

I am not one to totally get rid of all our Christmas decor

the minute the holidays are over -

just the really obvious stuff.

The white and neutral winter decor stays out

 until February when the St. Valentine's decor takes its place.

So out it goes in February, but not any sooner than that:

 whether/weather!

Snow flakes, snowmen, pine cones, etc.

keep things delightfully WINTER.

Because it is still winter!

It's going to remain winter for a long while, too!

See the white heart shaped plates hiding under

my white wire teapot above?

They'll be replacing the pine cones ones soon enough.

I'll either be putting some live herbs inside these crocks

or put them away for another year.

But for right now there's extra large tea lights inside

to help keep things in a warm glow during short days

and long cold winter nights!

The foyer changes often, as it doesn't even look like this now.

I put my French antique bisque clock back in the bedroom

and placed my tall white feather tree there in its stead.

I will try to show you it later, it's just too dark to try now.

(Sorry to tease.)

OK here below is now how I have it.

So I didn't tease you very long, haha.

Still apologize for all the shadows and graininess.

Having a very busy day working and didn't have time to get out the lamps for pic. : - )

I have lots more to share, so stay tuned!

This is getting too long,

 so I must share winter decor in parts.

I am still upset at myself that I never showed you Christmas!

I had every square inch of this house decorated, too!

I am determined not to let winter completely go by

without sharing at least a few more decor posts this time!

Sorry I have been away so long.

Romeo and I have just been busy

 watching the snow.

Hope to be back soon with Part 2 of this post!

As always, thank you for stopping by.

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Mosaic Monday   *   Inspire Me Tuesday   *   WOW Us Wednesday


What We Accomplished   *   Home and Garden    *  Treasure Hunt


Feathered Nest   *   Home Sweet Home   *  At Home